Choosing a car includes so many factors to think about that it makes most people’s head spin. Surprisingly, though, safety is usually not as high on the list as things like aesthetic and price. But with car accidents being a leading cause of death in the United States, it should be. If you’re going to be barreling down a highway at 70 mph every day going to and from work, you should feel and understand that the machine carrying you there is as safe as possible.
So, without further ado, here are the top 5 most dangerous car brands, with ratings from the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Ratings).
#5. Nissan
Only about 10% of Nissan cars have received a five-star NHTSA rating, and only 25% have achieved the IIHS accolades. This is way behind its Japanese counterparts, which average around 40%. Factor this is in that at a point the Nissan Versa was one of the most dangerous cars being driven around, and Nissan isn’t getting a great reputation.
#4. Mercedes-Benz
Only about 8% of Mercedes have received an IIHS award, which is much lower than some of its other German luxury car competitors. They’re also missing some safety features that other German cars are more likely to have, such as-blind spot monitoring.
#3. Dodge Ram
Dodge is said to be the most dangerous American car on the road with the IIHS only choosing 7.1% of its vehicles for its Safety Pick Selections. The NHTSA only gave Ram 17% of its cars a 5-star rating. This is a drop from its competitors such as Ford or GMC.
#2. BMW
Only 3.4% of BMW vehicles have earned an IIHS award. Again compared to other German luxury brands, BMW also fails to equip blind-spot monitoring and collision safety systems.
#1. MINI
MINI is popping up on many of the most dangerous list, often being at the bottom. It’s safe to say you shouldn’t pinch pennies if you’re buying a MINI, as for a non-luxury line, it only has a 10% safety pick from the IIHS, way behind the average of 30%.
While you shouldn’t be immediately returning your vehicle is it’s any of these car brands, it’s best to start looking into each specific model to find out the safety ratings given. Make sure your car is up-to-date with all the necessary maintenance and look up any safety recalls it may have. Millions of cars have been recalled due to having a dangerous Takata airbag; look up and learn more about that recall and if your vehicle is affected by clicking here.
And as always, drive safe out there.
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MartinWren, P.C. is a leading Virginia personal injury law firm with many years of experience to help you or your family get the legal help you need. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, contact a car accident lawyer Charlottesville VA trusts by calling us at 434-817-3100 for a free consultation or by filling out a quick contact form here. You may entitled to compensation.
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